How You Can Stand Out To Employers This Year (7 Helpful Tips)

One of the most frustrating things about looking for a dream job is feeling like you’re not even getting noticed.

Every job hunter must have experienced sending out applications and cover letters, only to receive an automated rejection or not even that. This whole process can be discouraging, especially if you are just on the first rung of the job ladder. It’s important to remember that there’s always something you can learn on how you can stand out to employers and beat the competition. Whether you are starting your career, or looking at a major career shift, you need to command attention to be given a chance. Here are some tips to help you catch the eyes of the recruiter.

7 Tips on How You Can Stand Out to Employers or Job Recruiters

As the job market gets increasingly competitive, you need to try every strategy in the book to have an edge over your competitors. There are ways to stand out among a great pool of applicants, so you’ll land one of the few jobs offered by a company.

1. Keep Your CV Tidy

It can be tempting to put as much information as you can think of on your CV to boast your qualifications to the recruiter. However, most jobs only require a resume that is one or two pages at most (academic CVs are a different ballgame and tend to be much longer). If your CV runs over two pages, you risk being pushed to the bottom of the pile or not having it read at all. It’s generally accepted that simple is best when it comes to your CV. Keep it short and sweet, and make sure that your expertise, experience, and accomplishments are easy to read.

2. Look For Additional Qualifications And Training

The job market can be brutal, and right now, employers are going to be looking for as much digital experience as possible. The hard pivot to digital technology back in 2020 is here to stay, and with the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, everyone is going to be relying on their data to do a lot more heavy lifting. If you are looking for ways to stand out, it may be worth looking at a master’s degree course or other postgraduate training to increase your job market value. Big Data university courses can give you an essential understanding of data analysis, collection, and management. This is an area that is constantly evolving, and it is only going to become more important in the coming months. You can learn more about how a postgraduate degree in Big Data at the University of Stirling can help you stand out from the crowd. Their courses can help you prepare for a wide range of careers in different industries.

3. Research The Company And The Role

One of the best ways to stand out to prospective employers is by showing that you clearly understand the role you are applying for. That means you should think about tailoring your CV to the job you are targeting. It might include preparing a new cover letter for each application. Look for skills they specifically mention in the job listing and demonstrate how you could fulfill them. You should also look into the company’s website to give you a clearer idea of what they do, and what their organization is all about. Showing that you share their vision, priorities, and ethos will help you stand out.

4. Prepare For Your Interview

When you get a job interview, do not leave it until the last minute to get prepared. You have to think ahead! Make a list of questions you think they may ask you, and ensure that you have some answers ready for them. You should also think about the questions you want to ask them. This will show that you contemplated the role and are looking for ways to contribute to the company’s success. Make sure that you get plenty of sleep the night before and have the right clothes prepared for the interview. Above all, remember to stay calm. This may be a long process with at least one interview stage but stick with it.

5. Show That You Have Initiative

As depressing as it may be to hear that when you are applying for any job, there will be several other applicants with the same skills and training as you. Even though there were 1.3 million job vacancies in June in the UK, it’s still very competitive. What you need to do is show them what makes you different. Think about what extra work and training you can do to help you stand out from the competition. Whether that is volunteering your time at an internship or charity or finding online courses you could take while you are job-hunting.

6. Mention Your Other Accomplishments

If you have a blog, YouTube channel, or other impressive social media presence that is focused on your chosen field, include this in your CV. Employers might be interested to know that you are not just eyeing the job as a 9-5 way to earn some cash. They need to see that you are committed to building up a career and growing up with the company. Reading or hearing what you have to say about your passions and area of expertise might help sway the employer’s decision in your favor. Especially if they can see what kind of value you can add to their company.

7. Exude Confidence Without Being Smug

Employers gravitate toward applicants who write and speak with confidence without being a braggart. Having excellent communication skills is good, but having the goods to back up what you are talking about is much better. What I’m saying is that you can build your confidence by putting in the work required to develop your craft. It means getting the training and experience you need for the job. If you don’t have the work experience yet or the formal education to help you compete for the role, at least you should have read a lot about how to do the job you are applying for. You should also display an intense willingness to learn on the job. You should also believe in yourself and never entertain the thought of giving up to show confidence.

Bottom Line

Applying for a job is like preparing to compete at a sporting event. If you want to emerge victorious among other competitors, you should have the right preparations to stand out. Not only you must have the aptitude for the role, which can be learned and developed, but you must also show the right attitude. Many times, the employer looks beyond the qualifications you have on paper and assesses your suitability for the job by looking at how you present yourself. Take heed of the tips we listed above to help boost your chances of getting hired. Next up, you may want to explore a quick guide to managing remote teams.